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This episode is from the oldest diary in Sally’s collection. You will hear the story of a gifted, influential woman, Margaret Middleton, who behind the scenes, was instrumental in the abolishment of slavery in England. The diary was written by her husband Charles Middleton, who used his influence and friendships for the anti slavery cause but sadly lost his dear wife, the love of his life, in 1792. He grieves for her and writes of his loss and emotions and his prayers to God to “shorten my sorrow”. He was a man of great faith as was his wife. Together with other men and women of faith, they formed a group known as “The Testonites”. Their main concern was the abolishment of slavery. With amazing grace and many years of effort, they were victorious.
1920’s Postcard – Teston House/Barham Court – Today
TIME LINE
- 1726 – Birth of Charles Middleton & Elizabeth Bouverie
- 1730 – Birth of Margaret Gambier
- 1738 – Charles begins his life at sea being just 12 years old
- 1741 – Charles & Margaret meet while on board a ship
- 1745 – Charles passes Lieutenant Examination
- 1750 – About this time (perhaps earlier) Margaret moves in with Elizabeth Bouverie at Teston House
- 1759 – Lieutenant Middleton captured the slave transport “Swift” with more than 100 slaves on board. James Ramsay (his assistant surgeon) is on board to witness the horror. William Wilberforce is also born this year
- 1761 – Charles & Margaret marry
- 1762 – Diana Middleton – Charles & Margaret’s only child is born
- 1763 – Charles retires from service to be with wife at Teston & spends the next 12 years taking care of the property
- 1772 – Elizabeth Bouverie is given the Teston House
- 1774 – James Ramsay published tract on slavery that greatly influences the Middleton’s
- 1776 – Middleton’s & Hannah More meet
- 1777 – Ramsay joins the Middleton’s at Teston House to live
- 1780 – Diana (Middleton’s daughter) marries Noel Edwards and between 1781 – 1801 gives birth to 18 children
William Wilberforce (1759 – 1833) Thomas Clarkson (1760 – 1846)
- 1783 – About this time Wilberforce is introduced to the Teston Group
- 1784 – Ramsay writes essay “Treatment & Conversion of African Slaves in the British Sugar Colonies.”
- 1786 – About this time Thomas Clarkson comes into the picture
- 1786 – 1789 – Elizabeth & Margaret hosted a series of seminal meetings which led to strategy to put the campaign for abolition on the agenda of their fellow Christians and of Parliament itself. It was here at Teston House in 1786 that both Clarkson and Wilberforce pledged themselves to work for abolition.
- 1784 – Charles is now a member of Parliament
- 1788 – Hannah More’s famous poem title “Slavery” is published
- 1792 – October 10th, Margaret Middleton passes away.
- 1795 – Charles made full admiral of Navy
- 1798 – Elizabeth Bouverie dies and gives estate to Charles who now becomes known as Lord Barham
- 1806 – Charles retires for last time
- 1807 – Slave trade abolished in United Kingdom
- 1813 – Charles Middleton passes away
- 1823 – Diana Middleton passes away
- 1833 – Slavery itself is abolished and this same year is when William Wilberforce and Hannah More pass away.
To Hear This Episode:
Diary Discoveries 